Peach-pitting machine



Memorial) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. E; GRI'ER. PEACH FITTING MACHINE.

No. 596,935, Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

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No. 596,935. Patented Jam l, 1898.

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GEORGE E. GRIER, OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA.

PEACH-PlTTlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFIUAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,935, dated January4, 1898.

Application filed March 9, 1897. Serial No. 626,564. (No model.)

To ail Hill/07771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GRIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pomona, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Peach-FittingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification;

My invention relates to an improved machine for severing peaches andsplitting the stones of the same in one action, said machine being alsoapplicable to the dividing of other fruits, if found desirable; and myinvention consists in certain features of novelty hereinafter describedand claimed.

Figure I respresents a perspective of my improved machine. Fig. IIrepresents a plan view of the double carrying-chain with the interposedknife for severing the peaches. Fig. III represents an end elevation ofthe carrying-chain with holders thereon. Fig. IV represents a sideelevation of one of the carrying-chains and a spring-holder for holdingthe fruit. Fig. V represents an end elevation. Fig. V I is a verticalsection taken on line VI VI, Fig. V. Fig. VII is a detail view showingthe connection of the lower end of the pitman. Fig. VIII is a detailview showing means of securing the lower knife to its movable support.Fig. IX represents a bottom view of the movable block to which thepitman is pivoted. Fig. X represents a top View of the block to whichthe lower knife is secured. Fig. XI is a detail view showing blocks foroperating the knife and the means for connecting and guiding saidblocks. Fig. XII represents a side elevation of the knife in position tosever the peach. Fig. XIII represents a side elevation of the knife inits position when the peach is severed. Fig. XIV represents an edgeelevation of the knife in its position after the peach is severed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the frame for supporting theoperating mechanism of my improved machine.

2 represents the carrying belt or chain, preferably made in the form ofa drive-chain having separable links 3, said drive-chain being doubleand having an intervening space 4. To each of said drive-chains, atintervals thereon, are secured the fruit-holders 5, onehalf of eachholder being secured to each of the chains directly opposite. The holderconsists of a bail-shaped spring-wire 6, having its lower end secured at7 to the inner portion of the link and having its upper end supported bya spring-wire 8, said spring-wire having its upper end looped at 9around the holder 6, having an intermediate coil 10 in order to give itstrength and spring force and having its lower end secured at 11 to thecarrying-chain.

The portion 6 of the holder is curved backwardly in the proper form toreceive the sides of the peach and hold it firmly until the knife severethe same. The knife is formed of two parts 12 13, having beveled cuttingedges 14. for severing the peach and pit. The cutting edges of the knifeare formed with concave or V-shaped contours 15, the corners of saidknives being nearer to the corners of the 0pposite knife than thecenters of the same, the result being that the peach is held in thedepression or cradle formed thereby until the same has been severed.(See Figs. XII and XIII.) The upper knife 13 is secured at 16 to across-frame 17, over which is placed a truss 18 for supporting the upperend of the frame of the machine.

19 represents guide-rods having their lower ends secured at 20 tocross-frames 21 and their upper ends secured at 22 to cross-frames 23.

2e represents an upper block, and a lower block, adapted to travelvertically upon the guide-rods 19. The blocks 24 25 are spaced apart andheld in said position by means of tubes 26, placed between the blocks,and also by means of rods 27, extending through the tubes 26 and havingtheir upper and lower ends bolted to the blocks. The lower knife isbolted at 28, through flanges 29, to the upper block 2a, said flanges 29extending at right angles with the base of the knife and by a turned-upportion of the same, thus forming an extended base for the knife thatprevents its vibration.

30 represents an operating-shaft having a crank 31 thereon.

with it the upper block 24: and the lower knife 12 until the knifepasses the lower edge of the upper knife, thus severing the peach orother fruit, cutting entirely through the peach and pit and permittingthem to drop into a chute 37. (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. V.)

38 represents a gear-wheel on the opposite end of the shaft 30, saidgear meshing with the idle-gear 39, which in turn meshes with a gear 40on a shaft 41.

42 represents a sprocket-wheel on the shaft 41, with which thedrive-chain that carries the peach meshes, thus carrying the chain alongas the knife 12 is reciprocated.

13 represents a sprocket-wheel situated at the lower forward end of theframe 1, over which the chain 2 passes, and 4: 1 represents asprocket-wheel on a shaft 45, situated at the rear end of the frame 1,which also forms a bearing for the carrying-chain. The sprocketwheel 43has its shaft 46 journaled to supporting-brackets 47.

In operation the peaches are placed by the operator or operators intothe spring holders 5, care being taken to place the peach in the.

proper position to sever the pit on the desired line, the spring-holdersfirmly grasping the peach on each side and adapting themselves to anysize of peach placed therein, and as the peaches come on line with theknives 12 13 the lower knife 12 will pass up between the chains 2,firmly grasping the peach, as shown in Fig. XII, and owing to theV-shaped construction of the edges of the knife the peach is heldtherein while being lifted up above the carrying-chain and at the sametime severed, as shown in Fig. XII, the continued rotation of the shaft30 causing the knife 12 to recede after having severed the peach and toagain rise by the time the succeeding peach has come on line with theknife, the knife thus forming a holding medium for the peach afterit hasbeen raised out of its spring-holder and held entirely by the knifeuntil the peach and pit are severed, thus performing its operationwithout dragging the fruitand avoiding the crushing or bruising of thesame incidental to device where the knife is drawn across the fruit.

I claim as my invention-- 1. As a new article of manufacture in apeach-pitting machine, a double drive-chain having an intervening space,a bail-shaped wire for holding the peach secured to each of thedrive-chains and a spring connecting the top of the bail-shaped wirewith the outer portion of the drive-chain, substantially asset forth.

2. In a peach-pitting machine the combination of a double drive-chainhaving an intervening space, a bail-shaped wire, forming a peach-holderhaving its lower ends secured to the inner part of the drive-chain, aspringwire having its upper end secured to the upper portion of thebail-sl1aped holder, a springloop formed therein and its lower endsecured to the opposite side of the drive-chain, substantially as setforth.

3. In a peach-pitting machine the combination of a suitable frame, adrive-chain for carrying the peaches, holders secured to thedrive-chain, a fixed severing-knife, guiderods secured to the frame, anupper and lower block adapted to reciprocateon said guiderods, asevering-knife attached to the upper block, and tubes placed betweensaid blocks and rods extending through said tubes and secured to theblocks whereby the blocks are spaced apart and held in a fixed position,substantially as set forth.

1. In a peach-pitting machine the combination of a suitable frame, apeach-carrying device, holders secured to the carrying device, a knifehaving a section fixed to a suitable support and a reciprocatingsection, guiderods secured to the frame, blocks suitably connected andworking on said guide-rods, the reciprocating section of the. knifebeing secured to the upper block, a pitman pivoted at its lower end tothe lower block, an operating-shaft having a crank thereon and havingthe upper end of said pitman secured to the crank, substantially as setforth.

GEORGE E. GRIER.

Witnesses:

G. H. WVATERs, GRANT PITZER.

